From Fox:

MONTEREY, Calif. — Jumbo squid that can grow up to 7 feet long and weigh more than 110 pounds are invading central California waters and preying on local anchovy, hake and other commercial fish populations, according to a study published Tuesday.

An aggressive predator, the Humboldt squid — or Dosidicus gigas — can change its eating habits to consume the food supply favored by tuna and sharks, its closest competitors, according to an article published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal.

The scientist are claiming that aside from a devastating impact on commercial fishing, we shouldn’t worry as the Humboldt doesn’t attack humans. I call bullshit, as the Discover Channel has aired footage of Humboldt squid attacking scuba divers.

Then there is this piece from Outdoor Online where a journalist decided to learn about the “Red Devil” first hand by hooking up with a man who was developing anti-squid armor(?!?):

“OK,” I say to myself, and cue up the DVD. I scroll my way past clips of Cassell pimping in his Star Wars squid armor for the Discovery Channel and telling spooky tales to get people squirming in their Barcaloungers. I check out a sequence called “Attacks,” in which flashing squid take runs at Cassell, their arms grating across his camera gear as he grunts and pants for breath. Finally, I find a segment called “Giants” and settle in.

Cassell is in a pale-green underwater world, a couple hundred feet down, and directly in front of him is an utterly massive squid. (Cassell estimates that it was about eight feet long and perhaps 200 pounds.) Its skin is pocked by scars from numerous battles, and its body appears unusually heavy. Dozens of other large squid are swimming nearby, flashing their eerie messages, and none of them seems the least bit intimidated by Cassell. Indeed, they repeatedly jet in to grab at him. Sometimes the probes come head on, the squid lining up like darts and then bull-rushing him with a flare of arms and tentacles followed by the scrape of sucker teeth on his armor. Sometimes there are sneak attacks from behind, signaled by grunts and yelps from Cassell as he tries to free himself. During one attack, you can hear Cassell laughing maniacally before finally conceding an “Owww.”

I don’t think these squid were playing touch football. Then there’s this piece by Mr. Squid Armor himself detailing his mauling by Humboldt’s.

Here’s a Humboldt attack video:

[youtube]1OFEDZndxqc[/youtube]

Don’t go in the water!

Related: Goodbye to the Weekly World News